Coin dispensing tray



Aug. 18, 1964 o. E. HOFFMAN ETAL com DISPENSING TRAY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed D60. 11, 1962 INVENTORS OTIS E. HOP FMAN CHARLES J, WA LLMAN AR NOLD R. BUCH HOLZ ATTORNEY 1964 o. E. HOFFMAN ETAL 3,144,987

COIN DISPENSING TRAY Filed. D60. 11, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS OTIS E. HOFFMAN CHARLES J. WALLMAN ARNOLD R.BUCHHOLZ g [am ATTORNEY ans-ass? 3 coin to be accommodated. The forward edge of the tray bottom portion 32 preferably rises to a level above that of the bottom of the coin entrance 2@ and a stop lug 33 extends from the forward edge of the tray bottom portion 32 adjacent the mounting plate 16. The lower edge of the end wall portion 25 is preferably curved to conform with the configuration of the tray bottom portion 32.

A protecting shroud 34 extends from the top of the back plate portion 30 and overhangs the shaft 28. A spring 35 surrounds the shaft 28 and has one end biasing against the inner surface of the rear wall portion 24 and a second end biasing against the underside of the shroud 34 so that the movable member 33 is normally biased towards a coin receiving position in which the tray bottom portion 32 is disposed beneath the coin entrance 20. A coin deflection plate 36 is secured to the mounting plate 16 by screws 37 and the deflection plate 36 slopes from the bottom of the coin entrance 2th towards the tray bottom portion 32 to direct discharged coins toward the receptacle formed by the rear wall portion 24, the end wall portion 25 and the tray bottom portion 32.

Finger engageable means in the form of a plate 38 are mounted on the underside of the tray bottom portion 32. The plate 38 is provided with a gentle L-shape in which a major leg 39 is secured normal to and transverse of the tray bottom portion 32 and a minor leg 4th is disposed generally normal to and longitudinally of the tray bottom portion 32 and spaced from the mounting plate 16.

The coin dispensing tray is mounted upon the side of the coin dispensing machine by initially placing the head of the mounting screw through the enlarged hole portion of the slot 17 and then sliding the mounting plate 16 downwardly against the plate 13. In this position, the bottom of the mounting plate 16 rests within the mounting channel 14 and the screw 15 is disposed within the narrow portion of the slot 17. Tightening of the mounting screw 15 will then restrain the coin dispensing tray against the side of the coin dispensing machine 10. It is also to be noted that the projections 19 which fall within the slots 13 provided in the mounting plate 16 prevent lateral movement of the coin dispensing tray. When mounted, the coin entrance 20 provided in the mounting plate 16 registers with the discharge opening 12 of the machine 10 and the chute ll of the machine projects through the coin entrance 20.

With the tray in position, the spring 35 will bias the movable member so that the back panel portion 31 overlies the rear wall portion 24 and the tray bottom portion 32 is in position to receive coins. When coins are discharged from the machine It down the chute 11, they will be deposited in the tray upon the curved surface of the tray bottom portion 32, as shown in FIG. 3. The deflection plate 36 directs the coins generally towards the center of the tray and away from the immediate area adjacent the side Wall of the machine It After a particular discharge of coins has been completed, the operator places the fingers of his open hand, with palm up, against the plate 38 and moves the movable member 30 including the tray bottom portion 32 rearwardly against the force of the spring 35. This action is illustrated in FIG. 4 which also shows coins deposited in this tray. Coins which have been deposited within the tray will be restrained by the rear wall portion 24 whose lower edge 26 sweeps the inner surface of the tray bottom portion 32 as the movable member 36 is moved rearwardly. The movable member 365 may be moved to a position in which the entire bottom of the tray will be effectively removed. The operators hand, which has been employed to displace the tray bottom portion 32, will then be in a position to receive the coins as they fall from the tray. The stop lug 33 prevents the displacement of the movable member 3th beyond a position in which the bottom of the tray is removed by engaging the rear wall portion 2d. Removal of the operators hand permits the movable member 30 to return to' its coin receiving position under the action of the spring 35.

The minor leg 40 of the finger plate 38 guards the operators hand from abrasion or scratching on the surface of the machine It) or the mounting plate 16 as the hand moves rearwardly. The deflection plate 36 by directing the deposited coins away from the machine 10, places them in a position in which they will fall into the palm of the hand rather than possibly slipping between the hand and the side of the machine 10.

It will be seen from the above description that the coin dispensing tray of this invention provides an efficient means for permitting the deposit of coins directly into the hand of an operator. The tray is fully detachable from the associated coin dispensing machine and provides positive assurance that coins deposited in the tray will be caused to fall into the operators palm when the tray is actuated.

We claim:

1. A coin dispensing tray for attachment about the discharge opening of a coin dispensing machine, comprising: a mounting plate adapted for attachment to the coin dispensing machine and having a coin entrance adapted to register with said discharge opening; a rear wall member mounted upon said mounting plate and having a lower sweep edge; a shaft mounted by said rear Wall member and having its axis generally normal to said mounting plate; a movable member mounted for rotation upon said shaft and including a displaceable tray bottom portion for receiving coins deposited in said tray and having a coin supporting surface cooperating with the sweep edge of said rear wall member; and finger engageable means on said tray bottom portion for displacing said movable member rearwardly causing said sweep edge to sweep the coin supporting surface of said tray bottom portion and thereby permitting coins to fall from said tray.

2. A coin dispensing tray for attachment about the discharge opening of a coin dispensing machine, comprising: a mounting plate adapted for removable attachment to the coin dispensing machine and having a coin entrance adapted to register with said discharge opening; a stationary member secured to said mounting plate and including a rear wall portion projecting from said mounting plate and provided with a lower sweep edge, and an end wall portion spaced from said mounting plate; a shaft mounted by said stationary member and having its axis generally normal to said mounting plate; a movable member including a back plate portion mounted for rotation upon said shaft and a tray bottom portion extending between said mounting plate and the end wall portion of said sta tionary member and having an inner surface defined by an arc described by the lower sweep edge of said rear wall portion as the movable member is rotated about said shaft; means biasing said back plate portion against said rear wall portion to position said tray bottom portion beneath said coin entrance for receiving discharged coins; and finger engageable means mounted on the underside of said tray bottom portion for displacing said movable member rearwardly against the action of the biasing means and thereby permitting coins to fall from said tray.

3. A coin dispensing tray for attachment about the discharge opening of a coin dispensing machine, comprising: a mounting plate adapted for removable attachment to the coin dispensing machine and having a coin entrance adapted to register with said discharge opening; a stationary member secured to said mounting plate and including a rear wall portion projecting from said mounting plate to one side of said coin entrance and provided with a lower sweep edge at a level below that of said coin entrance, and an end wall portion extending from the outer edge of said rear wall portion generally parallel with said mounting plate and opposing said coin entrance; a shaft mounted by said rear wall portion and having its axis generally normal to said mounting plate; a movable member including a back plate portion mounted for rotation adjacent its upper edge upon said shaft, and a tray bottom portion extending from a lower edge of said back plate portion beneath said lower sweep edge and between said mounting plate and said end wall portion, said tray bottom portion having an inner surface defined by an are described by the lower sweep edge of said rear wall portion as the movable member is rotated about said shaft, the forward edge of said tray bottom portion rising to a level above that of the bottom of said coin entrance; means biasing said back plate portion against said rear wall portion to position said tray bottom portion beneath said coin entrance for receiving discharged coins; and finger engageable means mounted on the underside of said tray bottom portion for displacing said movable member rearwardly against the action of the biasing means and thereby permitting coins to fall from said tray.

4. A coin dispensing tray for attachment about the discharge opening of a coin dispensing machine, comprising: a mounting plate adapted for removable attachment to the coin dispensing machine and having a coin entrance adapted to register with said dischirge opening; a stationary member secured to said mounting plate and including a rear wall portion projecting from said mounting plate to one side of said coin entrance and provided with a lower sweep edge, and an end wall portion generally parallel with said mounting plate and opposing said coin entrance; a shaft mounted by said rear wall portion and having its axis generally normal to said mounting plate; a movable member including a back plate portion mounted for rotation upon said shaft and a tray bottom portion extending between said mounting plate and the end wall portion of said stationary member and having an inner surface dcfined by an are described by the lower sweep edge of said rear wall portion as the movable member is rotated about said shaft; a deflection plate sloping from the bottom of said coin entrance towards said tray bottom portion to direct discharged coins into the receptacle defined by said rear wall portion, said end wall portion and said tray bottom portion and away from said mounting plate; means biasing said back plate portion against said rear wall portion to position sa d tray bottom portion beneath said coin entrance for receiving discharged coins; and finger engageable means mounted on the underside of said tray bottom portion for displacing said movable member rearwardly against the action of the biasing means thereby permitting coins to fall from said tray, and including a finger guard portion spaced from said mounting plate.

No references cited. 

1. A COIN DISPENSING TRAY FOR ATTACHMENT ABOUT THE DISCHARGE OPENING OF A COIN DISPENSING MACHINE, COMPRISING: A MOUNTING PLATE ADAPTED FOR ATTACHMENT TO THE COIN DISPENSING MACHINE AND HAVING A COIN ENTRANCE ADAPTED TO REGISTER WITH SAID DISCHARGE OPENING; A REAR WALL MEMBER MOUNTED UPON SAID MOUNTING PLATE AND HAVING A LOWER SWEEP EDGE; A SHAFT MOUNTED BY SAID REAR WALL MEMBER AND HAVING ITS AXIS GENERALLY NORMAL TO SAID MOUNTING PLATE; A MOVABLE MEMBER MOUNTED FOR ROTATION UPON SAID SHAFT AND INCLUDING A DISPLACEABLE TRAY BOTTOM PORTION FOR RECEIVING COINS DEPOSITED IN SAID TRAY AND HAVING A COIN SUPPORTING SURFACE COOPERATING WITH THE SWEEP EDGE OF SAID REAR WALL MEMBER; AND FINGER ENGAGEABLE MEANS ON SAID TRAY BOTTOM PORTION FOR DISPLACING SAID MOVABLE MEMBER REARWARDLY CAUSING SAID SWEEP EDGE TO SWEEP THE COIN SUPPORTING SURFACE OF SAID TRAY BOTTOM PORTION AND THEREBY PERMITTING COINS TO FALL FROM SAID TRAY. 